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Last week saw members of the community in need pay Bainbridge Public Safety a visit, collecting gifts and food and even getting a picture with Santa for this year’s Christmas for Kids program.

BPS administrative assistant Janette Mowry spoke to the Post-Searchlight about this year’s program. According to her, they provided for 45 children in total this year, an increase since last year. While many came in person to pick up the presents, BPS delivered to some. “For whatever reason, they didn’t have a ride, they couldn’t get to us, or they don’t drive and don’t have vehicles, transportation,” she said.

This year saw some slight changes, as a full Christmas meal is usually provided. “We used to give out the whole meal, but truthfully, how do you know what somebody likes to eat? So then we just changed it and gave them a choice between turkey or ham… and then we had a donation of over 75 pounds of potatoes, so we gave each one of them a 10 pound bag of potatoes to go with their meat,” Mowry explained.

Leftover toys and food were given to the Laymen Brotherhood for their own Christmas dinner and toy giveaway.

“I would love to just thank all of the tremendous generosity and outpouring from the community businesses that brought toys, as well as the individuals,” Mowry said. “It’s just fantastic to see the community coming out for our toy drive, and helping us reach families that just don’t have like others have.”